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Season three opens with a candid, funny, and deeply human conversation that spans leadership change, end-of-life care, family milestones, and the surprising ways a poultry podcast can move people. Brandon shares what “managing up” looked like through a leadership transition at Prism Controls—how learning a new boss’s values and cadence sharpened communication and trust over time. Emily takes the mic to unpack her shift from a high-intensity med-surg unit to hospice nursing at a level one trauma center, showing how empathy, presence, and dignity can transform even the hardest days. Together, we reflect on a 25-year marriage, a long-running remodel that turned project management into a domestic art form, and the bittersweet edges of the empty-nest season.

We also pull back the curtain on the show’s direction: more farm stories from industry legends and rising talent, because the generational arcs, pivots, and practical wisdom inside those barns teach better than any playbook. Brandon recalls a faith-forward moment on stage—“I matter because I’m a child of God”—and how it ignited deeper conversations and personal accountability to live what he says. Then we travel to Guatemala, where a simple yes led to a 4,000-bird ministry farm, an Egg A Day approach to feed mountain communities, and a plan to scale layers where jaguars make backyard flocks impossible. Eggs become logistics, nutrition, and hope—proof that operations and compassion can align.

Finally, we keep AI grounded. Brandon uses transcripts from one-on-ones to audit his own leadership patterns and turn blind spots into follow-through. On farms, he frames AI as decision support: spotting subtle flock deviations, correlating storms, feed changes, and performance so producers can act faster with confidence. It’s not about replacing people; it’s about freeing them to be more human. Alongside this, there’s a spring triathlon on the calendar—because physical grit fuels clear thinking and long-term leadership.

Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves farm stories, and leave a review with the one insight you’re taking into work this week. Want to be a guest or nominate a quiet, generational farm? Reach out—we’re building season three around your stories.

Hosted by Brandon Mulnix - Director of Commercial Accounts - Prism Controls
The Poultry Leadership Podcast is only possible because of its sponsor, Prism Controls
Find out more about them at www.prismcontrols.com

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A blue jacket can change a life. We sit down with Michigan FFA state officer and MSU agribusiness student William Rogers to trace how one classroom broiler project became a launchpad for leadership, real business skills, and a clear career path in modern agriculture and the poultry supply chain. From public speaking nerves to state office, William breaks down the steps that built his confidence—and why those same steps create standout talent for integrators, suppliers, and agtech teams.

We unpack what FFA looks like now: an intracurricular program where Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) act as living resumes. William’s diversified livestock and crop projects taught record keeping, marketing, and financials using AET, the kind of data literacy that translates directly to farm management software, compliance, and precision ag tools. He explains how sales is really about relationships, how meeting procedure shapes executive presence, and why learning technology works best with hands-on mentorship—whether that’s drone mapping, equipment operation, or live budgeting.

This conversation shines a light on inclusion and opportunity. You don’t need a farm to find a home in FFA; photography, mechanics, research, logistics, and marketing all connect to agriculture’s ecosystem. We explore leadership conferences, the power of community service, and the mindset employers prize most: a willingness to learn and a willingness to work. If you’re a parent searching for a path for your student, a hiring manager looking for doers with initiative, or an alum ready to give back, you’ll find practical ways to plug in—from local alumni groups to statewide events and national summits.

If this story could help one student find direction, share it with them. And if you enjoyed the show, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it along to a friend who needs to hear what FFA can unlock.

Hosted by Brandon Mulnix - Director of Commercial Accounts - Prism Controls
The Poultry Leadership Podcast is only possible because of its sponsor, Prism Controls
Find out more about them at www.prismcontrols.com

Send us a text

What if your hen house burned tonight—would your plan hold? We sit down with Brett Cohrs, CRM and Senior Vice President at Palomar Insurance, to unpack what’s really changing in poultry insurance and how leaders can turn risk management into a competitive edge. From rate softening for large layered property programs to tighter appetites for smaller growers, Brett explains why deductibles are climbing, which choices actually move premiums, and how to prepare your balance sheet for higher retention without jeopardizing growth.

We get specific about fire risk in modern barns. Annual infrared scanning, true 100‑foot separation, and two‑hour fire doors in corridors and processing areas now sit at the center of underwriting scrutiny. Cage‑free has multiplied exposure: bigger single‑site values, more motors and controls, and dust acting as fine fuel. We talk through why control systems built to protect birds can unintentionally feed a blaze, and how purpose‑built barn technology can detect abnormal heat, trigger early response, and keep a local incident from becoming a total loss.

Beyond property, Brett maps the risk terrain producers often overlook: product recall in decentralized models, employment practices liability as regulations shift, cyber exposures to connected controls, and the market shocks that turn a covered loss into a larger business interruption claim. He shares practical guidance for building a winning submission—accurate valuations, defensible BI calculations, documented maintenance, and clear contingencies for parts, graders, and egg sourcing—plus scenario exercises every manager should run before renewal.

If you lead an egg or poultry operation, this conversation will help you decide where to invest first, which practices underwriters reward, and how to design a program that survives bad days and funds growth on good ones. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review with the one change you’ll make next week to improve your farm’s risk posture.

Hosted by Brandon Mulnix - Director of Commercial Accounts - Prism Controls
The Poultry Leadership Podcast is only possible because of its sponsor, Prism Controls
Find out more about them at www.prismcontrols.com